Since officially launched in February 2023, the prototyping phase of the Ocean Charger project is finalized. Charging tests have been conducted in port as well as testing of the offshore connection solution. Together with partners, Vard have demonstrated that the Ocean Charger is an important step towards delivering zero emission ships to the wind industry.
With a strong consortium of industry and research partners, Vard has been leading the way from research to testing, validation, and commercialization of new technological solutions for energy transfer to battery-powered ships offshore.
Charging tests have been done in port with high voltage charging of the ship`s batteries. Testing has also been done of the Ocean Charger offshore connection solution and we have demonstrated successfully that it can connect and disconnect the cable under certain conditions.
By connecting vessels to the power grid in the wind farm and charging batteries regularly, the operational availability of emission-free vessel operations will be secured. The aim is to power operations at the field without using any additional energy sources.
“Rem Power” is the first vessel to partake in the testing of Ocean Charger project. COO in Rem Offshore Ronny Pål Kvalsvik underlines the importance of being part of this project:
Ronny Pål Kvalsvik, COO in Rem Offshore, says that “For us it is extremely important to be a part of the Ocean Charger project. We can show what we have told for years. Now we have partners bringing this along, and we can prove to the market that this is doable.”
Source: Vard
